Telemotor



M'. B. BENSON.

APPLRCATION FILED DEC.27, i916.

11 8714,179. Patented Apr. 12,1921.

3 SHEES-SHEET l.

Illllllllllllllll-l :I

WITNESSES: /N VEN TOR M B. EENSON,

v TELEMOTR.

APPLlcATmN .FILED 9150.27, 1916.

1,374,179. 1mm m12, mie

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ATTURMEY UNITED Isiuiri-:s

PATENT OFFICE.

`IMJEL'VIN B. BENSON, OF SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN.

TEIEIVICOTOR.`

Specification of kLetters Patent. Patented APL 12, 1921.

Y Application filed Decemher 27, 1916. Serial No. 139,128.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, MELVIN B. BiirisoN, a citizen of the `United States, residing at Superior, in the county of Douglas and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telemotors, of which I do hereby declare the following to be a specification. i

My invention relates to telemotors, and has for its primary object the provision of kimprovements in steering gear for vessels.

tical longitudinal section ofthe hereinafter described controller box and pedestal, partly broken away, and of parts positioned thereon, or therein. Fig. 3, kis a topplan view partly broken away, of the hereinafter described auxiliary controller case. Fig. 4, is a 'vertical longitudinal section approximately on the line A- B" C-y D .of Fig. 3. Fig. 5, is a vertical transverse section approximately on the line E-a F- G- H of said Fig. 3. Fig. 6, is a fragmentary plan view of the hereinafter described reciprocating collector bars, showing the hereinafter described insulation member interposed therebetween. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view partly in diagram showing my inventionas applied to the direct operation of a steering gear from which a steam engine is omitted.

Heretofore it has been customary to operate the steering gear on large vessels by means of a hand steering wheel having a hub connected with the tiller by cables or chains extending aft, from a pilot house near the front of the vessel; or else by oil teleinotors in which oil pipes extend aft from cylinder near the rudder head; a piston in the pilot house cylinder being operated by the steering wheel and a piston in the aft cylinder being driven by the piped oil and connected to the valve of a steam steering engine. Where the cable or chain connections are used on an empty vessel of considerable length, they tend to become slack; or when used on a laden vessel of considerable length they tend to stretch, orto become so taut that they bind. In an oil telemotor, air bubbles tend to accumulate in the pipes and to become compressed therein so that the cylinder pistons do not work in accurate accordance with the-steering wheel and the rudder does not take the position indicated by such steering wheel. Further, theoil tends to leak around one end of the piston and so permit the rudder to work toward center when the steering wheel and oil pistons are at one end of their travel. f

In the drawings, l is a controller case of any suitable structure, preferably mounted on a support of any suitable construction as a pedestal l. Said controller case, when used in connection with a steering gearfor vessels, is preferably positioned in a pilot house in the fore part of such vessel. Within said case is positioned an electric contact point 2, preferably of the collector bar type,

which is insulated from said case as by an insulation member 3. Said point or bar 2 electrically communicates at all times, by means of any suitable conductor, as by means of a wire l,with the positive pole of a suitable source of electricity, as a generator 5. Electrically communicating with said point 2 at all times is a movable conductor or contact point 6. It will be observed however that, if desired, said bar 2 may be omit- Vted and said'wire 4 maybe directly connected to said pointe, without departing from the scope of certain of my claims. Said point 6 is adapted to contact with any one or other of a plurality vof contact points f 7, positioned within said case and therein insulated vfrom eachother and from said case by any suitable insulation means, as by the insulation member 6a. Each of said points 7 is connected by any suitable conductor as by a wire 7a, with a correspondinfr contact point 7" preferably external to said case, which latter points are spaced from each other by' any suitable means, as by an insulation member 8. Adapted to contact at various times with any one or other of said points 7" is a Contact point or bar 9, preferably of the collector bar type. Adapted to contact at other various times with the same such point 7 is a Contact point or bar 10, preferably of the collector bar, type. Adapted to insulate such point 7b at still other times from both of said bars 9 andfrlO, is an insulation member 11 interposed be-V tween said points or bars 9 and 10. Said points 9 and 10 and said insulation member 11 are mounted on a carrier of any suitable construction, as upon a reciprocatable plate 12, from which they are preferably insu-Y lated in any Suitable manner as by an insulation plate 13. Said point or bar 9 is electrically connected with the opposite or nega'- tive pole of said source in any suitable inanner, as by a contact point 9a (in normal contact with said bar 9), and by wires 14 and E. It will be understood however that the point 9a may, itvdesired, be'omitted and that the wire 9El may be directly connected to the point or bar 9. A. relay coil 14a is interposed at any suitable place in and forms part of a normally open electric current comprising said conductors and points 4, 2, G, 7 7271), 9, 9a, 14, 14a, E, and said source. Said point or bar 10, is electrically connected with said opposite or negative pole of said source in any suitablemanner as by a contact point 10a (in normal contact with said bar 10), and by wires 15 and E.Y It will be understood, however, that, it desired, said point 10a may be omitted and that said wire 15 may be directly connected to said bar 10. A relay coil 15a is interposed at any suitable place in and forms part of a normally open circuit comprising said conductors and points 4, 2, 6, 7, 7a, 7b, 10, 10, 15, 15a, E, and said source. One brush oiI the armature oi an electric motor 16 is electrically connected with one pole of said source, as to the positive pole thereof, by means of a normally open contact 17. Adapted to be actuated by said coil 14EL to close said contact 17 is an armature 17a. The other brush of said motor armature is connected with the opposite pole of said source, as to the negative pole thereof, by means of a normally closed contact 18. Adapted to be actuated by said coil 15a to open said normally closed contact 18 is an armature 18, which armature 18a is adapted in retracted position to close said contact 18. Contrariwise the irst said brush oi said armature is also connected to the negative pole of said source by means of a normally open contact 19 adapted to be closed by said armature 18, when said armature is actuated by said coil 15a, and the second said brush oi' said motor armature is also electrically connected with the positive pole ot said source by a normally closed contact 2O adapted to be closed by said armature 17L when the latter armature is in retracted position. A, is a wire con nection common to one of the points of each of said contacts 17 and 19. B, is a wire connection common to one of the points of each of said contacts 18 and 20. C, is a wire connection common to the other points of said contacts 17 and 20. D, is a wire connection common to the other points of saidv contacts 18 and 19. E, 1s a wire common to the conductors 14 and 15 and to the kthe wire D connects said contacts 18 and 19 with the opposite brush of said motor armature. The wire A connects said contacts 17 'and 19 with one pole of said source, andthe wire B connects said contacts 18 and 20 with the other pole of said source through the intermediation of a portion of said wire E to which it is preferably connected.

'Connected to said wire E is one terminal of the field winding 21 of said motor, the opposite terminal or' which iield winding is connected to said wire A.

Said plate 12 is adapted to be reciprocated by any suitable mechanism governed or actuated by said motor, as by a worm or screw 22 adapted to engage a nut 23 attached to said plate, said screw having keyed to one of its ends a sprocket wheel 23 engaged by a belt 24 which also engages a sprocket wheel 25 keyed to a shaft 26. A gear 27 is also keyed to said shaft 26 and is engaged by a pinion 28a keyed to the armature shaft 28 of said motor. lVhen said invention isused for actuating the valve of a steam steeriner ear a inion 29 is also 1 preferably keyed to said shaft 26 and is adapted to engage a gear 30 which is keyed to a worm shaft 31 provided with a worm 32 adapted to engage a nut 33 extending from a slidable plate 34 mounted in guides 35. lPivotally secured at oneV end to said plate 35 is a connecting rod 36 which is pivotally secured at its opposite end to one end of a walking beam 37 which is pivotally `mounted intermediate of its ends on asuitlable stationary support, as a girder or bracket 38 and is pivotally secured at "its opposite end to one end of a connecting rod 39 which is secured at its opposite end to the valve stem 4()a of the valve 40 of an engine (not shown). Il desired said engine and said parts 33 to 40, inclusive, may be omitted and said worm maybe adapted to engage a gear 41 keyed to a drum 42. A

Vflexible hauling means 43 is wound upon said drum and is connected at its opposite endsto tno corresponding opposite ends of a segment 44 secured to a rudder post 45.

The conductor 6may be of any suitable construction, preferably in the form of a bar secured intermediate of its ends to a thimble 61 which is rotatably mounted on a post 6d, from which thimble said bar 6 is insulated in any suitablemanner as by an insulation ring 6e.y Said thimble extends vabove the turning or swinging the Same. The points 7b, bars 9 and 10 adjacent insulation members and'- plate 12 are preferably mounted in an auxiliary controller case G, which may be distant from said case 1. y f

In operation, assuming the conductor 6 to be incontact with the central one of -said contact points 7, and that the insulaf. ductor 6 is swung, Current will flow from` the positive pole of said source through the conductors and points 4, 2, 6, 7, 7 a, 7", 9, 9a, 14, 14, and E tothe negative pole of said source. Y The coil 145L is thereby energized and operates the armature 17 causing ity to close the normally open contact 17 and toopen said contact 20. The current will now also iow from the positive pole of'said source through said field `and wire E to the negative pole of said source: also from the positive pole of said source through said contact 17, thence through said armature, thence through said contact 18 thence to the negativevpole of said source.' The motor now being energized will, through the intermediate mechanism described, cause said plate to move tothe left until the transitory'contact point or bar 9 is retracted from the contact point 7b in series with the tent porarily closed one of the contacts 7, and until the insulation member 11 comes into opposition to the point 7b in circuit, thus opening such circuit and discontinuing the operation of the device. The conductor 6 may be advanced to another point 7 farther to the left, renewing the operation, or may be shifted to any point to the richt of its last prior stop, thus shortening the operation or-if the insulation member has already passed to the left of they point 7b inally in circuitreversing the operation by directing the current through the transitory rcontact 1() instead of through the transitory contact 9.V The motor is so geared or connected to the rudder'and to said plate 12 that they move together at such speeds and for vsuch distances as will bring the rudder to a stop at the same angle to the right or left of the longitudinal axis of the vessel as the angle of said conductor 6 is to such axis. Assumingthe conductor 6 to be in contact with the central one of said points 7 and said insulation member 11 to be opposed tothe ycentral one of said points 7b, if the conductor 6 be swung to any point 7 to the right of said central point 7 thus closing theJ normally open contact including said point 6 and the point 7 to which it is swung, current will iiow from the positive pole of said source through the conductors and points 4, Q, 6, 7, 7, 7", 10,

10a, 15, V15a and E to the negative pole of Vsaid source. f The coil 15, thus energized, operates said armature 18il causing it to close said lnormally open contact19 (and to open said contact 18). The current will now also `flow as before from the positive pole of said source through saidiield and wire E to the negative Vpole of said source: also from the positive pole of said source through said contact 19, thence (reversely) through said armature, thence through said contact 20 to the negative pole of said source. The motor being now energized and reversed will, through `the transmission mechanism described, move said plate to the right until kthe transitory Contact point 10 has been retracted from the point 7 b in closed circuit and until the insulation member 11 comes into opposition to the point 7b in circuit, thus opening such circuit and discontinuing the operation. The operation may be renewed by advancing the conductor 6to another point 7 farther to the right, or may be relatively 'reversed by moving said conductor6 to any point 7 to the left of the last prior stop, thus directing ther currents through the transitory contact bar 9 instead of through said bar 10.

While 1 have described the preferred form ofmy invention it is obvious that the construction may be extended, modiied or altered in various'particulars without departing from the spirit and scope of certain of my claims.

1. The combination of a source of electricity and the armature of an electric motor in circuit therewith, said circuit including a normally open contact and a normally closed contact; a second electric circuit includ-ing said source, a normally open con tact and a normally closed contact; a third electric circuit including said source a normally open contact and a normally`closed contact; a fourth electric circuit including said source, said armature, a normally open contact and a normally closed Contact; manually operatable means for closing the normallyopen contact in either of said second and third circuits; exclusively mechanical ymeansadapted to be operated by said motor for opening'the normally closed Contact in either of said second and third circuits after the normally `open contact of the corresponding said circuit has been closed; means governed by said second circuit for closing the normally open contact of said first circuit and for openingvsaid normally closed Contact of said fourth circuit; means governed by said third circuit for closing said normally open contact in said fourthVr circuit and for opening said normally closed contact in said first circuit; a field member for said motor, one ofk the terminals of said field member being adapted to electrically communicate with said second and third :circuits, the other of said field terminals being adapted to electrically communicate with said iirst and fourth circuits.

2. The combination of a source of electricity and the armature .of an electric motor in circuit therewith, 'said circuit includ-- ing a normally open contact; a second electric circuit including said source, a plurality of normally open contacts in parallel, a plurality of normally closed contacts in parallel, each of said normally closed contacts of said second circuit being in series kwith a corresponding one of said normally open contacts of said second circuit; a third electric circuit including said source, a plurality of normally open contacts in parallel, a plurality of normally closed contacts in parallel, each of said normally closed contacts of said third circuit being in series with a corresponding one of said normally open contacts of said third circuit; a fourth.

electric circuit including said source, said armature, a normally open contact and a normally closed contact; manually operatable means for closing and reopening any -one or other of the normally open contacts of said second and third circuits; means adapted to be actuated exclusively by said motor for opening any one of said normally closed contacts oit said second and third circuits at an interval after said normally open contact in series therewith has beenclosed, said means being adapted to reclose such normally closed contact after said normally open contact in series therewith has been reopened and after another of said normally opened contacts has been closed; means governed by said second circuit for closing the normally open contact of said rst circuit and for opening the normally closedcontact of said fourth circuit; means governed by Said third circuit for closing said normally open contact of said fourth circuit andl for opening said normally closed contact of said iirst circuit; a field member for said motor, one pole of said field member being connected to one of the conductors in said second and third circuits, the other pole of said ield being connected to one of the conductors in said irst and fourth circuits.

` 8. rlhe combination with a source of electricity and the armature of a motor in circuit therewith, said circuit including a normally open contact; a second electric circuit including a source of electricity, a normally open contact, a normally closed contact and only one relay coil; manulally operatable .means for closingfthe no1'- be operatedby rsaid .motor forv opening the normally closed contact of saidsecond circuit, means governed by said coil for Yclosing the normally open Acontact of saidy firstl circuit. .Y

4. The combination with a source of electricity of the armature of a motor in circuit therewith, said circuit having a normally open contact and a normally closed Contact; a second electric circuit including said source, a normally open contact, a normally closed contact and a relay coil; means adapted to be manually operated `to close the normally open contact of said second circuit; means adapted to ,beoperated by said motor to open the normally closed Contact of said second circuit at an interval after the closing of the normally opencontact of said second circuit; means adapted to be operated by said coil to close the normally open contact of said first cir cuit, the armature leads of said motor being adapted to be short circuited through said normally closed contact of said rst circuit when said second circuit is open, the field l of said motor being in constant circuit with .tor the armature brushes of which are adapted to be normally shortcircuited through two normally closed contacts; of a second electric circuit including a source of electricity, a normally open contact, one of the normally closed contacts of said short circuit, and vthe armature of Vsaid motor; a third electric circuit including said source a normally open` contact, a normally closed contact and only one relay coil; means adapted to be manually operated to close the normally open lcontact'of said third circuit; means adapted tov be operated by said motor for opening the normally closed contact of said vthird circuit; means governed by said coil for opening only one of the normally closed contacts of said short circuit and for closing thenormally open contact of said second circuit, the field of said motor being in constant circuit with said source.

, In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

l MELVIN B. BENSON.

Witnesses: j

JAMES T. WATSON, JOHN B. RICHARDS. 

